DISC. falling body is increased; nor can it repofe I. itself at ease on any account, which stops short of the original and first founder of the community.

Every motive of this fort confpires to animate our researches into the origination of mankind, and the hiftory of our common progenitor. We cannot but earnestly and anxiously wish to be acquainted with the circumstances relative to the father of that family, of which all nations are parts; to discover and furvey the root of that tree, whose branches have overspread the earth.

Nor can fuch investigation be deemed matter of curiofity only. To form proper ideas of man, it is neceffary we should view him as he came from the hands of his Creator. We must know, in what ftate he was placed, what were the duties resulting from that state, and what the powers whereby he was enabled to perform them. We must learn, whether he be now in the fame ftate, or whether an alteration in his

ftate

state may not have fubjected him to new DISC. wants, and new obligations. Upon a knowlege of these particulars, every system of religion and morality must be constructed, which is defigned for the ufe of men. A fyftem in which the confideration of these hath no place, is like a course of diet prescribed by a physician, unacquainted with his patient's conftitution, and with the nature of the disease under which he has the misfortune to labour.

It is obvious to remark, that this knowlege. of human nature, of what it was at the beginning, and what alterations have fince happened in it, is a knowlege to the attainment of which no ftrength of genius, no depth of reasoning, no subtlety of metaphyfical disquifition can ever lead us. It is a matter of fact, and must be afcertained, as matters of fact are, by evidence and teftimony. But he only, who made man, can inform us, how man was made; with what endowments, and for what purposes. If he hath not done it, the world is, of neceffity

A 2

DISC. neceffity, left in utter ignorance of fo ca1. pital a point. And this reflection alone may fupply the place of a thoufand arguments, to convince us that he hath done it.

We find an opinion current through heathen antiquity, that all is not right with the human race; that things were not at first as they are now, but that a change hath been introduced for the worfe. When the Philofophers tell us, that mankind were fent upon earth to do penance for crimes by them committed in a pre-existent state, what is it but faying, that man once was upright and happy; but that ceafing to be upright, he ceafed to be happy; and that natural evil is the confequence and punishment of moral. Nor is it at all difficult to difcern, through the fictions of the poets, those truths which gave birth to them, while we read of a golden age, when righteoufnefs and peace kiffed each other; of a man framed of clay, and animated by a fpark of celeftial fire; of a woman endowed with every gift and grace from

1.

above; and of the fatal cafket, out of DISC. which, when opened by her, a flight of calamities overspread the earth; but not without a reserve of HOPE, that, at fome future period of refreshment and reftitution, they should be done away. Such are the fhadowy scenes, which, by the faint glimmering of tradition reflected from an original revelation, prefent themselves in that night of the world, the era of pagan fable and delufion, when the imaginations of poetry and the conjectures of philofophy were equally unable to supply the information, which had been long loft, concerning the origin of the world, of man, and of evil.

With this information we are furnished by the writings of Mofes, penned under the direction of him, who giveth to man the spirit of understanding, for the inftruction of ages and generations. We are told, by whom the matter of which our system is composed, was brought into being; and in what manner the feveral objects around us were gradually and fucceffively formed,

DISC. till the whole, compleatly finished, and

I.

furveyed by it's great author, was pronounced good, or fit in every respect, to anfwer the end for which it was defigned.

After this are related the particulars concerning the formation of man; the time of his production; the refolution taken upon the occafion; the materials of which he was compofed; the divine image in which God created him; and the dominion over the creatures with which he was invefted. It is intended, in the following discourse to offer fuch confiderations, as may be of ufe towards the explanation and illustration of these particulars in their order.

With regard to the time of man's formation, we may observe of the divine procedure, what is true of every human plan, concerted with wisdom and forefight; that which was first in intention, was laft in execution. Man, for whom all things were made, was himself made laft of all. We are taught to follow the heavenly artist,

step